Awareness is the best defence against rabies

LYDENBURG – Rabies is a preventable disease that still kills about 55 000 people needlessly each year. World Rabies Day on September 28 is aimed to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of rabies prevention and Sterkspruit Veterinary Clinic is supporting this initiative against one of the oldest and deadliest diseases known to mankind.

It is a preventable viral disease that can be transmitted to animals and humans. It is usually transmitted via a bite but exposure may also occur through contamination of broken skin or mucous membranes with saliva of an infected animal. It is possible that virus shedding in the saliva of infected animals could take place before the symptoms of rabies are seen. Following infection, there is an extremely variable incubation period ranging from weeks to years prior to onset of symptoms.

Rabies is primarily a disease of children, who are particularly at risk due to their close contact with dogs – the major global source – according to Dr Debbie Briggs, executive director of the Global Alliance for Rabies Control. Children are more likely to suffer multiple bites and scratches to the face and head, both of which carry a higher risk of contracting rabies. They are often unaware of the danger that dogs transmit rabies and may not tell their parents when a bite, lick, or scratch has occurred.

Once nervous symptoms of the disease develop, rabies is fatal to both animals and humans. The good news, however, is that rabies is easily preventable. Vaccination prior to possible exposure is a crucial part of health management of domestic animals, and is the single most important factor in rabies prevention. It starts with the animal owner.

Protect yourself, your pet and your community by taking animals to be vaccinated. This is compulsory for all dogs and cats in South Africa in terms of the Animal Diseases Act.

Moving your dog or cat across a national or provincial boundary in South Africa without a valid certificate of rabies vaccination, is illegal.

In a recent South African study, it was found that nearly three quarters of all dog-bite wounds were caused by a dog which was known to the victim, but not owned him or her. The message is clear. If your neighbour’s dog is regularly loose on the streets, it would be prudent to insist that your neighbour proves that his (or her) wandering pet has been vaccinated.

In 2012 there were 834 confirmed cases of rabies in animals in South Africa. Statistics are not provided on how many suspected rabies cases tested negative, but it is certain that every year thousands of suspect dogs are needlessly sacrificed for testing because their owners failed to have them vaccinated.

There are some precautionary measures that can be taken which include avoiding contact with strange dogs and not being tempted to approach or touch wild animals which appear to be tame.

If you are bitten, wash bite wounds with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately.

If your pet is bitten, consult your veterinarian immediately. Prompt and appropriate treatment after being bitten and before the disease develops, can stop rabies infection and/or prevent the disease in humans and animals.

In support of rabies awareness, Sterkspruit Veterinary Clinic is offering free rabies vaccination for dogs and cats from September 1 to 30.

Call 013-235-4132 for further details.

For more information on World Rabies Day visit ttp://www.rabiesalliance.org